Andrew Irwin is currently studying Civil Engineering at Loughborough University and was awarded a QUEST Undergraduate Scholarship in partnership with Costain.

Why did you apply for QUEST Undergraduate Scholarship?

I knew that having the backing of the QUEST Scholarship throughout my studies would be a great help. Not only would it provide financial support, which in these difficult times is invaluable, but the work experience opportunities would allow me to develop and focus on the most appropriate route to gain Chartership.

How is the scholarship helping you?

The QUEST Scholarship has helped me in a number of different ways, particularly in being able to start completing my ICE training objectives, even at this early stage. I also have the support of a major civil engineering contractor, with whom I’ve undertaken placements already. This has provided me with invaluable experiences and has been key to learning and developing new skills as an Engineer. Being a QUEST Scholar and working with a company such as Costain has allowed me to deepen and expand my knowledge of civil engineering. It has also raised my awareness of the vast nature of the subject.

What projects have you been involved with on your summer work placement?

During my first summer placement with Costain I was based on the M25 Bell Common Tunnel refurbishment project. Here I focused on the underground drainage and services works, methods for safe systems of working and formed risk assessments. Being my first site placement this experience was daunting to start with, but I gained a fantastic insight into the various aspects of working on a major highways project.

I am currently undertaking my industrial placement year, working on the Greater Manchester Recycling and Waste Project. As a Site Engineer I have been heavily involved in surveying, planning, producing calculations, assessing quality and. Based on-site, I have worked directly with project managers, engineers, subcontractors, supervisors and operatives. It has been a steep learning curve and I have gained a vast amount of experience. This placement has confirmed that the contracting side of civil engineering is for me! Working on site as part of a team I have been encouraged to use my initiative and my ideas and these contributions have been valued.

Did you have a mentor assigned to you during your summer work placement? If yes, how has this helped you?

Yes. Having a mentor has helped me to work towards completing personal and ICE objectives set at the start of my placement. By discussing my progress and the next steps I should be taking to complete objectives, I have been supported and encouraged enabling me to grow in confidence and take on more responsibility on a variety of tasks.

What other benefits have you experienced during your time as a QUEST scholar?

As a QUEST Scholar - with the encouragement and support of my sponsor, Costain - I have had the opportunity to complete a number of training courses. These include obtaining my First Aid Qualification at Work Certificate and Fire Marshall Training. I also had the opportunity to attend a residential course at the National Construction College in Norfolk, where I gained hands on practical experience of the core trades used out on site, such as steel erecting and cladding. This has helped me to further widen my skills base and on-site knowledge, giving me greater confidence to create solutions when presented with problems.

Would you recommend the QUEST Undergraduate Scholarship to others?

I would certainly recommend the QUEST Scholarship. It has been a fantastic opportunity and gaining invaluable work experience will help make you more employable. The break from continuous study, being involved working on a project enabling me to link theory to practice and acquire new skills, have all been invaluable to me. Having these experiences is such an advantage, making you stand out from the usual fresh-out-of-university-graduate, and of course the money eases the financial burden of being a student.

Are you actively involved with ICE? If you are, please explain briefly what type of activities you are involved in.

A year after receiving my QUEST Scholarship I returned to the Institution to man the Costain stand on the day of the interviews. Being a QUEST Scholar I was able to promote the Scholarship and the fantastic opportunities it provides with enthusiasm, and talk to the aspiring scholars, having been through the process myself.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I now look forward to new challenges and the exciting venture of having the opportunity to be instrumental in the shaping of our future environment. When I look back now and see how far I have come since starting my university course I know that without the support of my QUEST scholarship I would not be as knowledgeable at this stage as I am currently. I am grateful to ICE for this scholarship.